System and method for packaging and transporting food

ABSTRACT

A system and method for packaging, protecting and transporting food items, such as wedding cakes, from the production location to the site of use includes a primary transportation box into which one or more tier boxes are placed. One cake tier or level is placed within each tier box, and each cake tier is maintained in position within the tier box by a stabilizing member having an aperture sized to receive therein the base of the cake tier. In addition, a vertically adjustable locking pin is inserted through the top of the tier box and downwardly into and through the cake tier for further fixing the cake tier in position within the tier box. The cake tier boxes are removed from their respective primary transportation boxes by the last in first out principle so that the wedding cake can be assembled, cake tier by cake tier, at the wedding reception site.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to food container, packaging anddelivery systems and methods, and, more particularly, pertains to asystem and method for storing, protecting and transporting food itemssuch as cakes, pies, and other meal and dessert items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The storage, packaging and transportation of food items forspecial occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries andgraduations, presents the problem of both the timely delivery of thefood item and also the delivery of a food item perfectly intact in sofar as the item itself, as well as any decorative features andembellishments, must not be damaged in the conveyance of the food itemfrom the store or bake shop to the reception hall or outdoor pool party.

[0003] The above concerns are especially critical regarding thepackaging and delivery of wedding cakes to reception halls or churchauditoriums that may be many miles from the site where the wedding cakewas produced. The production of a wedding cake is an expensive andtime-intensive activity that must be undertaken with exquisite care asit is a primary highlight in the signal event of the lives of twoindividuals. In general a local specialty shop, bakery, or even agrocery store is employed to produce the cake. The cake may have anumber of tiers as well as all manner of flourishes and embellishments.After the wedding cake is produced, a representative or employee of theshop or store carefully travels to the site, with the wedding cakecomponents in some sort of boxes or containers, and then constructs thecake, tier by tier.

[0004] The wedding cake business has been generally untouched bynational food companies and chains despite their dominance of thenational food market. Although the national food companies and chainscan easily produce—and outproduce—wedding cakes in quantities localspecialty shops and bakeries cannot match, the national food companiesand chains face a major barrier to capitalizing on this market: thenational food companies have no proven way of transporting the weddingcake—fully intact and pristine—from the baking site to the weddingreception site. Thus, in the wedding cake business, it is not theability to manufacture wedding cakes in large volumes that is critical,but the ability to package, transport, and then construct the weddingcakes, unmarred and perfectly intact, at the wedding site that iscrucial. It goes without stating that there is an extremely lowtolerance for defects or imperfections; even the slightest defect orimperfection could result in the immediate loss of any potential futurebusiness from that customer, as well as the customer's family members,friends, relatives and acquaintances.

[0005] Thus, the prior art discloses a number of systems and structuresfor containing, packaging and transporting food or other items.

[0006] For example, the Tulkoff patent, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,440)discloses a pizza packaging system and method that include a generallystandard pizza box having a bottom section, side panels, and a hingedlid with the bottom section receiving thereon one pizza. In addition, aninsert can be placed within the pizza box that is elevated above thebottom section and on which a second pizza can be placed. Nonetheless,the pizzas can still be jostled and shaken during transport anddelivery.

[0007] The Lundstrom et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,117) discloses acandle packaging system that includes a clear candle box, top and bottomcaps that are also clear for enclosing a candle therein, and a printedinsert visible from outside the box. The candle box allows access to thecandle by prospective buyers while the insert sets forth the purpose anddesign of the candle.

[0008] With particular respect to packaging for cakes, pies, and thelike, applicant is unaware of any prior art that addresses the need toprovide a package which securely holds the item in place to allowtransport without damage. Reference may be made to the following U.S.patents which generally disclose packaging for cakes or similar items:Dahl, U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,676; Ebrahim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,024;Beckerman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,303; and Beckerman, U.S. Pat. No.4,776,459.

[0009] However, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there isstill a definite need for a system and accompanying structure topackage, protect and transport wedding cakes, and other frangible foodand confectionary items, from the baking location to the site for whichthe wedding cake or other food item was produced. There is a furtherneed for such a system which will allow anyone at the site of thecelebration to construct the wedding cake by following simpleinstructions accompanying the cake, rather than having the baker orbaker's representative perform that task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention comprehends a system and method forstoring, safeguarding and transporting food items, with an especialemphasis on the packaging and transportation of wedding cakes, from thebakery location to the wedding site.

[0011] The system and method includes a primary storage andtransportation box into which a parallelogram-shaped insert is placed.Placed within the insert is one or more tier boxes, and each tier boxhas a generally flat cake stabilizing member placed on the bottom of thetier box. The cake stabilizing member includes a central opening forreceiving the base of the cake, and placement of the cake base in thecentral opening prevents the cake from sliding around within the tierbox. After the tier box is closed with the cake tier enclosed therein, avertically adjustable locking pin is inserted down through the top ofthe tier box and into and through the cake tier until the locking pincontacts the cake base. The insertion of the adjustable locking pinthrough the tier box and the cake tier further fixes the cake tier inposition to hinder any jostling of the cake tier that may occur duringtransport to the wedding site. The other accouterments of the weddingcake, such as the several cake stands, pillars, and decorations, can bestored in the space that exists between the walls of the primary storageand transportation box and the walls of the insert.

[0012] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a systemand method for safely and reliably packaging, protecting andtransporting wedding cakes and other food items from their site ofmanufacture to their delivery destination.

[0013] It is another objective of the present invention to provide asystem and method for packaging, protecting and transporting weddingcakes or other food items that provides for their quick unpacking andassembly, as in the case of wedding cakes, at the delivery site.

[0014] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide asystem and method for packaging, protecting and transporting weddingcakes and other food items that is lightweight, durable, and easy toassemble and disassemble.

[0015] These and other objects, features and advantages will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded assembly view of the system and method forpackaging and transporting wedding cakes illustrating the disposition ofthe tier boxes relative to the primary transportation box;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the placement of a tier boxwithin the primary transportation box;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cake stabilizing member that isplaced within the tier boxes as first shown in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the parallelogram-shaped insertthat is placed within the primary transportation box as first shown inFIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking pin that is used to fixand hold the position of a cake tier when the cake tier is placed withina tier box;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a representative wedding cake andthe cake pillars and cake platforms that are used to support the severaltiers of the wedding cake;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of one cake stand first shown in FIG. 6illustrating the location of the cake pillars; and

[0023]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of one cake tier box showing thecontainment of one cake tier within the cake tier box and also the useof the locking pin to fix and hold the cake tier in position duringtransport and delivery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 is a system and method for packaging,protecting, temporarily storing, and transporting various types of fooditems such as cakes, pies and other dessert and confectionary items,with a particular use for packaging and transporting wedding cakes.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a wedding cake 10 typically includestwo or more cake tiers 12 stacked on top of each other with each tier 12supported by a circular cake stand or platform 14 supported byspaced-apart removable pillars 16 that fit into sockets 18 located onthe lower side of the cake stand 14. In addition, the upper surface ofeach cake tier 12 is has marking or indentations 20 thereon to align andindicate the location of the cake pillars 16 for each level, and thesemarkings 20 are shown in FIG. 6. The markings or indentations 20 aremade at the place of manufacture to facilitate the assembly of thewedding cake 10 when the cake 10 reaches its destination. Also, duringthe manufacture of the wedding cake 10, a cardboard base or plate 22 isaffixed onto the bottom surface of the respective cake tier 12 andgenerally has the same diameter as the cake tier 12 on which it isplaced. The cake pillars 16 are aligned with the markings 20 on thesubjacent cake tier 12 and extend through that subjacent cake tier 12until the pillars 16 contact the cardboard base 22 of that cake tier 12.The wedding cake 10 arrives disassembled at the wedding reception andmust be carefully assembled tier 12 by tier 12—and it is to assure thesafe, intact, pristine transportation and arrival of the wedding cake 10to the reception that the present invention is directed.

[0026] Illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and 8 are the elements that comprise thepresent invention of a packaging, protecting and transportation systemand structure 24. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a primary wedding caketransportation box or container 26 that is typically a cardboard boxwith side walls 28, a floor surface 30 and flaps 32 attached to eachside wall 28. Disposed within the primary box 26 is aparallelogram-shaped insert 34 whose corner edges 36 project past eachother at right angles. The insert 34 can be four interlocked cardboardsheets. When the insert 34 is placed within the primary box 26, thecorner edges 36 abut the inner surfaces of the box side walls 28 andspace the insert 34 from the box side walls 28 so that four gaps 38 arecreated where cake stands 14, cake pillars 16, and decorations can bestored, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the primary box 26 is adapted to receivetherein one or more tier boxes 40. The tier boxes 40 fit snugly withinthe insert 34 and preferably the tier boxes 40 open by a side flap sothat the upper surface of each tier box 40 is a smooth surface, therebyallowing each tier box 40 to be stacked level and contiguously on top ofeach other when placed within the primary box 26. Generally two tierboxes 40 would be placed within one primary box 26, and since thefour-tiered wedding cake 10 of FIG. 6 is standard, two primary boxes 26with each primary box 26 holding therein two tier boxes 40 would berequired to package and transport the entire wedding cake 10 to thereception site.

[0028] In order to prevent the wedding cake 10 from shifting or slidingwhen enclosed within the respective tier box 40, a stabilizing collar ormember 42 is placed on the bottom surface of each respective tier box40. The stabilizing member 42 is generally a square-shaped cardboardpiece having a central opening or aperture 44. Because each cake tier 12has a different diameter, as illustrated by the representative weddingcake 10 of FIG. 6, several stabilizing members 42 will be used, with theaperture 44 of each stabilizing member 42 varying in diameter to snuglyand securely encompass the cake base 22 having the correspondingdiameter. The thickness of the stabilizing members 42 will be generallythe same, or close, to the thickness of the cake base 22. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the stabilizing member 42 will abut the walls of theinsert 34 thereby preventing the stabilizing member 42 from shifting orsliding when disposed within the primary transportation box 26. A thinpiece of foam or similar material could be placed on the bottom surfacebetween the bottom surface of the tier box 40 and the stabilizing collar42 to further prevent any sliding or jostling of the cake tier 12 placedtherein.

[0029] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 8, a further means tomaintain the disposition of the cake tier 12 is used in conjunction withthe stabilizing member 42 that is disposed circumjacent the cake base 22for each cake tier 12. The means to maintain the disposition of eachcake tier 12 that is placed within one tier box 40 includes a verticallyadjustable locking pin 46 that comprises an elongated shank 48 having athreaded end 50 and an opposite pointed end 52. A disc or washer 54having a centrally threaded aperture 56 is engaged to the threaded end50 of the shank 48 and the depth that the shank 48 is inserted into andthrough the tier box 40 and the cake tier 12 is adjustable by rotatingthe disc 54 clockwise or counter-clockwise. As shown in FIG. 8, theshank 48 of the locking pin 46 passes through the top of the tier box 40and the body of the cake tier 12 and descends until the pointed end 52contacts the cake base 22. If the user desires extra protection for thelocking pin 46 to stay in place during transport, the disc 54 can alsobe glued to the surface of the tier box 40, or taped, or rubber bandedinto place on the outer surface of the tier box 40.

[0030] Thus, with reference to the representative four-tier wedding cake10 of FIG. 6, two primary boxes 26 would be required with each primarybox 26 holding two tier boxes 40. Disposed within each tier box 40 wouldbe one cake tier 12, and the cake base 22 would fit within the aperture44 of the stabilizing member 42. The cake tier 12 would be further heldin place by the downwardly inserted locking pin 46. It should be notedthat the wedding cake 10 would probably be frozen and transported in thefrozen condition to increase the shelf-life of the wedding cake 10.After the wedding cake 10 arrives at the reception destination, the tierboxes 40 would be removed from their respective primary transportationboxes 26. The locking pin 46 would be removed from each tier box 40 andthe pointed end 52 would be used to gently pry and lift the cake base 22of the cake tier 12 up and slightly out of the aperture 44 of thestabilizing member 42 so that the cake tier 12 could be removed from thetier box 40. The wedding cake 10 would then be constructed by placingthe largest cake tier 12 on either a serving tray or cake stand. Thepillars 16 for the appropriately sized cake stand 14 would be alignedwith the corresponding markings 20 on this lowest cake tier 12 and thenthe pillars 16—already attached to the cake stand 14—would be gentlypressed through the subjacent cake tier 12 at and in alignment with themarkings 20 as shown in FIG. 6. The successive cake tiers 12 would thenbe added by pressing the pillars 16 for each level or tier 12 throughthe subjacent cake tier 12 in alignment with the indentations 20 on thatcake tier 12. The hole in the center of each cake tier 12 left by theinsertion of the locking pin 46 therethrough is barely noticeable and ifnecessary can be easily concealed with a layer of icing, frosting or adecoration. This aligning and stacking of cake tiers 12 would continueuntil the smallest and top cake tier 12 was mounted thereon, and thenthe wedding cake 10 would be successfully assembled for the occasion.

[0031] Additional embodiments of the invention are also possible, thoughnot shown in the drawings. For instance, it would be possible to foregouse of the stabilizing member 42 and rely solely on the locking pin 46to secure the food item. Yet another embodiment for single food itempackaging, for example a single cake or a pie, is possible without theprimary box 26 or insert 34, and with or without the stabilizing member42.

[0032] While the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment and several alternatives, it is to be understood that theinvention can accommodate numerous changes, modifications, andalterations without departing from the scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A system for packaging and transporting the tiers of awedding cake, comprising: at least one primary packaging andtransportation box; a square-shaped insert for disposition within theprimary box so that the insert is spaced inwardly from the side walls ofthe box thereby forming open spaces between the insert and the sidewalls of the box; one or more tier boxes for successive stackedplacement within the insert for enclosure by the primary box; and alocking pin for insertion into and through the top of the tier box andinto and through the cake tier for holding the cake tier in positionwithin the tier box during transportation.
 2. The system for packagingand transporting the tiers of the wedding cake further comprising: aplurality of stabilizing collars with each collar adapted for placementwithin each respective tier box, and the collars having a centralopening for receiving therein the base of the cake tier so that thecollar can prevent the cake tier from sliding within the tier box duringtransportation.
 3. The system for packaging and transporting the tiersof a wedding cakes of claim 2 wherein the tiers of the wedding cake tobe packaged and transported are pre-marked with the proper locations forthe insertion of pillars for support of the tiers and the tiers includea cardboard base affixed to the bottom thereof.
 4. The system forpackaging and transporting the tiers of a wedding cakes of claim 3wherein the locking pin is selectively vertically adjustable forinsertion through tier boxes having varying sizes and cake tiers havingvarying thicknesses.
 5. The system for packaging and transportingwedding cakes of claim 4 wherein the locking pin includes a shank havinga threaded end and an opposite pointed end for insertion into andthrough the top of the tier box and the cake tier contained therein. 6.The system for packaging and transporting wedding cakes of claim 5wherein the locking pin includes a disc having a centrally threadedaperture for mateable engagement with the threaded end of the shank sothat rotation of the disc adjusts the distance the shank is insertedinto the tier box and cake tier.
 7. The system for packaging andtransporting wedding cakes of claim 6 wherein paraphernalia anddecorations associated with the wedding cake can be stored in the spacesformed between the insert and the side walls of the primary box.
 8. Thesystem for packaging and transporting wedding cakes of claim 7 wherein asheet of foam or similar material is placed under the stabilizingcollars within each tier box.
 9. A system for packaging, protecting andtransporting food items such as wedding cake tiers, cakes, and pies,comprising: at least one primary packaging and transporting box; asquare-shaped insert for removable disposition within the primary box sothat the insert is spaced inwardly from the side walls of the boxthereby forming storage spaces between the insert and the side walls ofthe box; one or more tier boxes for successive stacked placement withinthe insert and for enclosure by the primary box, each tier box includinga floor and capable of holding therein at least one food item; and alocking pin for insertion into and through the top of the tier box andinto and through the food item disposed within the tier box for holdingthe food item in position during transportation of the primary box. 10.The system for packaging, protecting and transporting food items ofclaim 9 further comprising: one or more stabilizing collars with eachcollar adapted for placement on the floor of each tier box, and eachcollar having a central opening for receiving therein the food itemwhereupon the collar prevents the food item from shifting and slidingwithin the tier box during transportation in the primary box.
 11. Thesystem for packaging, protecting and transporting food items of claim 10wherein the food item includes a base affixed to the bottom thereof andadapted to be received within the stabilizing collar.
 12. A system forpackaging, protecting, and transporting food items such as pies andcakes comprising: a packaging and transportation box including a floor;and a locking pin for insertion into and through the top of the box andinto and through the food item disposed within the box for holding thefood item in position during transportation.
 13. The system forpackaging, protecting, and transporting food items of claim 12 furthercomprising: a stabilizing collar adapted for placement on the floor ofthe packaging and transportation box and having a central opening forreceiving therein the food item whereupon the collar prevents the fooditem from shifting and sliding within the box during transportation. 14.The system for packaging, protecting and transporting food items ofclaim 13 wherein the food item includes a base affixed to the bottomthereof and adapted to be received within the stabilizing collar.